Wally World

I visited my favorite Super Store today...Wally World is what I fondly call it. Everything that was on my list was found and I was enjoying my check out. I had purchased some Hannah Montana items for my almost 10 year old daughter. The young man (approx. 20yrs old) that was helping me made a comment about Hannah Montana being everywhere these days! It was very tongue and cheek. So I explained that as a Mom of a tweenager that I was glad my daughter had chosen Hannah Montana to obssess over, because there were certainly others she could have chosen that would not have made me happy. And to my horror, he says, "You just wait, she'll do something stupid too!" Wow! I was saddened by his expectation, his surety that no one could actually make it through this life without really messing up. I get that no one is perfect, that we all sin. (In fact God says so in Romans, in case you don't get it!) But I, as a Mom, have a new resolve for Ms. Hannah Montana. I have heard her talk about her faith and even quote scripture to the most famous female talk show host around! So today, I'm praying for you Hannah Montana, (Miley Cyrus) to beat the odds, to be the one who is full of faith, grace and wisdom beyond your years. To be the one who makes a difference that counts in the lives of those younger who watch you. To be strong and courageous. And who knows, my Wally World friend may just be amazed.

Great Long Weekend!

This long weekend was so good! Our family has been going in all different directions lately, so it was nice to have some time together. Here's how it worked out:

• Friday we went out for a family dinner. This has been a tradition and I hope to do it as long as we can!


• Saturday was a rare date night for Steve and I. We went to a great Italian restuarant called Zucca's. We saw Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It was so funny...could have gone without the language of Jack, but it was a good comedy.


• Sunday went to Northstar, our home church now for the past 9 years! Steve and I actually got to sit together.(He works with the technical team, so he's often in the sound booth and I sit with friends.) Amazing service, great worship, just the best as usual!!


• Sunday night had a conference call with Shari Braendel and some other bloggers who won a contest about fashion, style, etc. Shari speaks all over and gave us some great advice. We'll have a second session this Sunday night!


• Monday I took the kids and met some friends at the Ice Forum to do some ice skating! This is one thing I've never tried, so I figured what the heck. I actually got the skates on and made it around the rink a few times without a death grip on the side. Check one off my "Bucket List!"


• Tuesday - our kids are out one extra day. Alas, we're back to the normal, day to day stuff...laundry, dishes, etc, etc.

Hope you had a great one.

Love is in the Air...Maybe

This past week, I blew it with my kids. I could blame it on the fact that my husband was out of town again, that I wasn't feeling great or that the cold/allergy/sinus medication I had taken was putting me into a coma! Or I could just be honest and say I was not operating with any fullness of the Holy Spirit...no patience, no kindness, no self-control. O-K, you get the picture!
Fast forward to the day after. When my kids got home from school, I sat them down and explained why I was crazy and asked them to forgive me. My youngest quickly said yes and gave me a hug and a kiss. My oldest hesitated, way too long for me. In that moment I realized that I couldn't choose for her, she was free to say yes or to say no. Thankfully, she said yes and love is in the air! But I couldn't help wondering, what if she had said no. How would I respond?
I Corinithians 13:4-8 teaches us what true love is; how I should respond no matter what. God says love is patient, love is kind, love is protecting, love is enduring and love is hopeful.
Every day life in our house is changing. Our role as parents who make all the choices for our children is quickly turning into making suggestions, giving advice and hoping for good decisions. There's no greater responsibility than being a parent! My prayer is to parent my children with true love and Thank God, He promises love never fails(I Cor. 13:8).

It's How You Live

Here's a song that has been ringing in my mind for the past week. Thinking about legacy and family, it's a great reminder to keep it simple. Enjoy!

Silent Night, Holy Night

Yes I realize that's the title of a Christmas song,but it's so much more to me now. This past Thanksgiving, I sat by my Grandmother's bed and sang it to her. I'm not a singer, but just had this compelling urge to sing her to sleep. You see she'd been in that bed for almost two years, having suffered from dimentia and a stroke. All of us have been praying for God to take her home, wondering when she would be made whole again. As I sang that day, she closed her eyes and was so peaceful. This past Monday, January 28th, she closed her eyes for good. Now she is in the presence of God and many loved ones that she'd missed for so long. As sad as I am to be without her, I am incredibly grateful for God's mercy. She's walking again, talking again, physically in the presence of God!

WOW! My mind can't wrap around it, but one day I will be with God too. What about you?